The power of Garth

Last Thursday, May 5, Garth Brooks and his fellow performer and wife Trisha Yearwood held a press conference in which multiple FM media outlets were in attendance to keep Fargo-Moorhead updated on the progress of their four sold out shows at the Fargodome.

As country music royalty ascended the platform, Garth Brooks gingerly escorted his wife on stage affectionately referring to her as “Miss Yearwood,” in the first of multiple gestures indicative of the couple’s deep rooted mutual respect for each other.

“When you’re with the right person, it’s the first time forever isn’t a long time,” says Brooks, “So I don’t think it’s a choice, it’s a have to. Where I’m going she’s going, where she’s going I’m going.”

In our one on one with Trisha Yearwood, we asked her what the secret was to making a relationship like theirs work. “You have to really like the person--you can’t do that if you rush in,” says Yearwood, “Because we were friends for a long time we laid down that foundation. I think that at the end of the day that’s there no matter what. We laugh a lot--we get it. We have the same sense of twisted humor and I think that’s it.”

Brooks exuded a youthful enthusiasm as he answered various questions, though in our one on one he did admit that it was difficult to get “back on the horse” and switch gears from retired dad to touring musician.

“When you’re a dad, it’s crazy how much every thought in and out is about somebody else, and then when you’re here and if every thought isn’t about you, you’re either going to get run over or you’re going to get left behind, so that’s been the biggest switch,” Brooks said, “It’s been kinda weird. I’m not sure I can ever get back to to thinking here [as he motions to himself], because my girls are always on my mind. When you find someone you love more than yourself, all you want to do is to make them happy. It’s a pretty cool blessing and curse to have.”

Love, marriage, and family aside, the two are clearly passionate about what they came to Fargo to do...music.

Brooks admits that he’s a fan of KISS, Freddie Mercury, and James Taylor, but George Strait inspired him to pursue a career in country music. Yearwood says, “Linda Ronstadt was my George Strait. She was playing music that had fiddles and steel guitars in it. So for me, it melded all of that country I grew up on with that powerhouse voice.”

In speaking of their own influences, the conversation led to the couple’s perception of contemporary trends in country music. “What were these kids raised on? Hip hop and dance beat driven stuff. Old guys don’t like it and say that ain’t country, but that’s what happens each time you turn the page. I like it myself.” Brooks said. He then noted the cyclical nature of the industry and both agreed that they foresee a return to country music’s roots.

As engaging as he was one on one, the charisma of Garth Brooks translated just as well on stage, almost literally keeping close to 20,000 people wrapped around his little finger. Pitting the audience on one end of the Fargodome against the other to see who could cheer louder. Armed with none other than a pointer finger.

Experiencing more people in one building than the population of your hometown is a powerful thing. Though accommodating traffic after the concert was a whole different animal.

His energy and onstage antics were indicative of someone who clearly loves what they do. During the press conference, one of his opening statements was, “There’s a science in how we pick our cities. This has been a real blessing, because every time a city comes up--we know it’s a place where we had a good time last time.”

In our one on one we asked him what the secret was in the recipe of his success. He replied, “I have no idea, anything good that has happened to me has happened through god. I guess that’s why you get nervous--you don’t know why they show up.